Learning With Laptops Handbook

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Shanghai American School Laptop Learning Initiative Handbook


Section 1: Laptop Specifications
Apple MacBook402CH/B (Waiting for additional info from the vendor to complete this)
  • Processor:
  • Memory: 2GB
  • Hard Drive: 160GB
  • Floppy Drive: None
  • Optical Drive:
  • Expansion Slots: 2x PCMCIA Slots
  • External Ports: 2xUSB, 1xVGA, 1xMicrophone In, 1xSound Out
  • Operating System: OS X Leopard
  • Application Software: Microsoft Office
  • Anti-Virus Software: None
  • Anti-Spyware Software:
  • Screen: 13 Inch
  • Video: Nvidia 9440
  • Keyboard and Mouse: Standard Laptop Keyboard with Touch Pad
  • Multimedia Package: Built Stereo Speakers; Software Control Volume
  • Battery: 6c Lithium Ion Battery
  • Modem –56.6 Kbps
  • Network Adapter:
  • Wireless Networking Adapter:
  • AC Adapter – 64 Watt

Section 2: Ownership
The laptops distributed to students will be owned and managed by the school. As such, certain restrictions will apply and are oulined in this document and in the attached Acceptable Use Practices and Procedures document. Only after permanently leaving the school will students take ownership of the laptops at which time school software and laptop software restrictions will be removed.

Section 3: Receiving Your Laptop
Laptops will be distributed during our “Laptop Orientation Night.” A parent must attend this event in order to receive the laptop. Before receiving the laptop, students and parents must sign and return these forms/agreements:
1. The Shanghai American School Acceptable Use Procedures and Practices Form
2. The Responsible Use Agreement
3. Parents and students must pay all appropriate school fees before a laptop is given out.

Section 4: Taking Care of Your Laptop
General Precautions
  • No food or drink is allowed next to your laptop while it is in use.
  • Cords, cables, and removable storage devices must be inserted carefully in the laptop.
  • Students should never carry their laptops while the screen is open.
  • Laptops should be shut down or put to sleep before moving them to conserve battery life.
  • Laptops must never be left in a car or any unsupervised area.
  • Do not expose your laptop to extreme temperature, direct sunlight, or ultraviolet light for extended periods of time. Extreme heat or cold may cause damage to the laptop.
  • Always bring your laptop to room temperature prior to turning it on.
  • At home, do not plug your laptop into an electrical socket with more devices connected to it than it is designed to handle. Plugging into an overloaded electrical socket may damage the laptop and/or start a fire.
  • If you will not use the laptop for a long period of time (winter vacation for example), disconnect the power plug and keep the laptop in a safe place where it can’t fall or be stolen. It is recommended that you also remove the battery.
  • You should never try to use the wireless laptop in a hospital as the radio waves can interfere with medical equipment.
  • Never use or place the laptop in a bathroom or any other damp environment including where it may be exposed to rain. Such exposure could cause a fire, electrical shock and/or damage to the laptop.
  • Never operate the laptop during a thunder/lightening storm with it plugged in. If a storm begins, immediately disconnect the laptop’s power cable and turn off the laptop. Failure to do so may result in a loss of data and/or damage to the laptop.
  • Never use a magnet near the laptop. Remember that TVs and large stereo speakers have magnets in them. Exposure to magnets can damage the laptop.

Section 5: Carrying Laptops
The protective cases provided with laptops have sufficient padding to protect the laptop from normal treatment and provide a suitable means for carrying the computer within the school. The guidelines below should be followed:
  • Laptops and power supplies should always be within the protective case when carried and used at school. The bag is designed to hold the laptop while in use to protect it if it falls off a desk.
  • Other items should not be stored in the carrying case to avoid placing too much pressure and weight on the laptop screen. Placing books in the laptop bag will break the screen. Students who have their laptops broken due to placing other items in their bags will have to bear the expense of repairing or replacing the laptop.

Section 6: Screen Care
The laptop screen can be damaged if subjected to rough treatment. The screen is particularly sensitive to damage if excessive pressure is placed on it.
  • Do not lean on the top of the laptop nor place objects on top of it when it is closed.
  • Do not place anything near the laptop that could put pressure on the screen.
  • Do not place anything in the carrying case that will press against the cover.
  • Do not poke the screen.
  • Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, or disks).
  • To clean the screen, dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or paper with water only and wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen.

Section 7: Using Your Laptop at School
  • Laptops are intended for use at school each day. Students are responsible for bringing their laptop to all classes, unless specifically advised not to do so by their teacher.
  • If students leave their laptop at home, they may check out a loaner laptop if one is available. Identification and a check-out agreement form must be completed and on file before a student can check out a loaner. Please remember that loaner laptops are on a first-come first-serve basis, and when they are all checked out, we do not have additional laptops available. Repeat violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action.

Section 8: Laptops Undergoing Repair
  • If a problem occurs with the laptop that a student is unable to resolve, students should not attempt hardware repairs but should instead immediately contact the Apple Support Center. Students should not attempt new operating system installations to repair software problems.
  • Loaner laptops may be issued to students when they leave their laptops for repair with the Service Center.
  • Students will be expected to return the loaner laptop by the end of the school day to the Service Center.

Section 9: Charging Your Laptop’s Battery
  • Laptops must be brought to school each day in a fully charged condition. Students need to charge their laptops each evening. Repeat violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action.
  • Students should bring the charger in the laptop bag each day.

Section 10: Screensavers and Backgrounds
  • Inappropriate background images are not permitted which includes pornographic material, inappropriate language, alcohol, drugs or other content not appropriate in an educational setting. Infractions will result in disciplinary action.

Section 11: Sound
  • Sound must be muted at all times unless permission is obtained from the teacher for instructional purposes.

Section 12: Printing
  • Printing stations will be available at the school.
  • Students may use school printers with teacher permission. However, printing will be limited to only those things needed directly for instruction.
  • Please remember that most printing should be done at home to ensure that work is turned in on time.

Section 13: Managing Your Files and Saving Your Work
Saving Your Work
  • Students will not have network access at home except for the school’s online social networking application (I would like to see this read file sharing application instead of social networking(Jeff) Elgg, therefore, it is highly recommended that students save their document to their laptops with a thumb drive used for backup purposes. Students will need to provide one USB thumb drive for saving files with a minimum size of 2GB.
  • In the event that the student laptops need to have an new operating system installation, it may not be possible to retrieve files stored on the laptop’s hard drive. To avoid losing important school work, students should save all of their work to their USB thumb drive and the SAS online file sharing application (Elgg) on a daily basis.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that work is not lost due to mechanical failure or accidental deletion. Computer malfunctions are not an acceptable excuse for not submitting work.
  • Save often and back up to thumb drives and the SAS online sharing application. (Elgg).

Section 14: Laptop Software
Originally Installed Software
  • The software originally installed by Shanghai American School must remain on the laptop in usable condition.
  • It is the responsibility of the Technology Facilitator to organize the installation of original software. Students will not be given the responsibility of installing software on their SAS issued laptop.
  • At the end of a student’s time at Shanghai American School, SAS owned software will be deleted from the laptop. Please refer to Appenidix ? to see the list of SAS owned software and laptop original software.
Additional Software
  • From time to time the school may add software applications for use in a particular course. It is the responsibility of the Technology Facilitator to identify additional educational software needs as they arise and coordinate the installation of new software with the SAS Technology Support Department or Apple Service Center. Additional software installations outside of the regular re-imaging schedule should only be considered when it is feasible and when the new software is absolutely vital to the educational process. Students will not be given school software to do personal installations. The licenses for this software require that the software be deleted from laptops at the completion of the course. Periodic checks of laptops will be made to ensure that students have deleted software that is no longer required in class and that the school has not exceeded its licenses.
  • Violent games and computer images containing obscene or pornographic material are banned on any computers brought to school.

Section 15: Inspection
  • As outlined in the SAS Acceptable User Procedure and Practices document, the school reserves the right to check a student’s laptop at any time. Specifically the AUP states, "I understand that SAS has the right to look at any data, electronic mail or files that exist on the network or on individual computers, without the prior consent of system users."

Section 16: Laptop Identification
  • Student laptops will be labeled in the manner specified by the school. Under no circumstances are students to modify, remove, or destroy these labels!

Section 17: Laptops Left in Unsupervised Areas
  • Under no circumstances should laptops be left in unsupervised areas. Unsupervised areas include the school grounds and campus, computer labs, cafeteria, break areas, unlocked classrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. Any computer left in these areas is in danger of being stolen.
  • Unsupervised laptops will be confiscated by staff and taken to the administrative office. Disciplinary action may be taken for leaving your laptop in an unsupervised location. Each student is responsible for their laptop once it has been issued.
  • In selected locations, the school will provide computer locking/recharging stations. These are the only places where students can leave their laptops unattended. Laptops will, however, need to be securely locked using the school assigned locking cable. Laptops in locking/recharging stations that are not fastened to the locking bar will be confiscated.

Section 18: Laptop Longevity
  • The standard laptop model purchased through the school will be expected to last for three school years. If, however, financial constraints make it difficult to purchase new devices at the end of a three-year period, the school reserves the right to extend the longevity of the portable devices.

Section 19: Training, Tutorials and Additional Information

Section 19: Acceptable Use Procedure and Practices (AUP) (It will be attached to the end of the handbook.)